How to Comparison Shop for a Digital Camera Online

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By eHow Contributing Writer

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Megapixels, optical zoom, digital zoom and frames per second. If this is all Greek to you but you want a good deal on a digital camera, consider doing your homework and shopping online. Before you buy the first one you come across, you need to comparison shop for a digital camera online.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Learn the lingo. See "Tips", below, for quick explanations of a few terms used to describe camera functions.
Step 2

Test drive a few. Head to your local discount or electronics stores and try out a few of their floor models. Play with the zooms to figure out how much you really need.
Step 3

Try out the various features, or at the very least research the ones you'll use. Night mode, action mode, portrait settings and more than a hundred others are available on various models.
Step 4

Visit major retailers online (see "Resources", below) and compare the megapixel rate, optical zoom, warranty and price, including shipping.
Step 5

Visit one or more of the comparison shopping sites below to look for digital camera deals they've found.
Step 6

Consider the size of the LCD display, some are just over 1 inch while others are closer to 3.
Step 7

Compare the memory sticks that are included. There is a big difference between 2 MB and 30 MB, even though they can both be the same physical size.

Tips & Warnings

The megapixels are the number of pixels captured on the highest resolution setting. The higher the megapixel number, the sharper, clearer your pictures will be. Optical zoom uses lenses to bring your subject closer. If you plan on taking photos of subjects that are far away, consider spending a bit more on higher optical zoom. Digital zoom isn't a zoom at all but rather enlarges a portion of the image. This cropping and enlarging can be done just as effectively using image editing software. Frames per second is the number of still photos taken per second when using the optional video mode. The human eye can comprehend 24 frames per second, so most casual users won't need more.
Don't fall for a knock-off camera for a name-brand price. If it says Camon, it's not a Canon. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

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